Fluid meter



May 28, 1940# w. F. scHuLTz 2,202,606

FLUID METER Filed July 9, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WH-UAM F. cHvI-rz BY l aM, www

ATTORNEYS May 28, 1940.

Filed July 9, 1938 WQ F. SCHULTZ FLUID METER 88 dw... "lflr 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVETOR.

WxLLxAM F. 5er-4 ULT?.

May 28 1940- w. F. SCHULTz 2,202,606

FLUID METER Filed July 9, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. w n L IAM F. CHULTZ- ATTORNEY fio vatelrited May 2.8,' 1940 UNITED STATESv PATENT oFFics FLUID METER William F. Schultz, Ripon, Wis. Application July". 9, 1938, Serial No. 218,341

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in iluid meters.

It is the `primary object of the invention to provide novel and improved metering mechanism of a type in which metering chambers are alternately filled and drained, it'being my purpose to provide inlet and. outlet valves .which are controlled with a snap action in such a manner that'at least one of the four valves `involved is independently operated while the other three operate simultaneously in each cycle of operation.

'More specifically, it is one of the important objects of the present invention to provide means g whereby the respective float chambersl are filled immediately, the rate of filling being much higher than the rate of consumption therefrom, and the iilling operation being independently controlledl by the float movement tocease at a predetermined level in each respective chamber. Thereupon the initiation of drainage from the flledchamber and the initiationy of the lling operation in the other chamber will depend wholly upon the completion of the drainage of said other chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide enclosed means which can readily be sealed and which will nevertheless permit of the individual adjustment of each float in its respective chamber, the mechanism being completely housed to function within the chamber without requiring rock shafts or connecting rods to pass through any openings in the housing. More specifically it is my purpose to provide a housing in which two compartments are formed by a partition which extends only to an intermediate point of the housing, all of the interconnecting mechanism" being disposed above the partition and comprising merely a lever fulcrumed on a rock shaft above the partition.

'Other objects will appear in more detail from the following disclosure.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partially in front elevation and partially in transverse section through the housing of a metering device embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a View of the apparatus in section in the plane indicated at 2--2 in Figure 1. l

Figure 3 is a view of the apparatus taken in horizontal section on the line 3 3 of'Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view in axial section through the inlet valve.

Figure 5 is a detail view taken in section on an enlarged scale on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

(Cl. 'i3-221) Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view in axa .section through one of the drain valves.

Figure 7 is a detail View on an enlarged scale n showing the adjustable relation between the float and its valve actuating member. 5

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail View taken on line 8--8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detail view in elevation showing a tool which I have devised for manipulation of the float for the adjustment of the meter. lo

Figure 10 is a view of the tool in perspective.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The meter casing i5 comprises a box preferably having a transparent front Wall I6 of glass l5 or the like, through which the meter register i1 is visible.y Instead of making the entire front wall of glass it is obviously possible to provide a Window therein for the reading of the register.

The interior of the casing I5 is divided at its 20 lower portion into compartments i9 and 2li by a partition 2l. which extends from front to rear of the casing and terminates at a level well below the top thereof. The register I'lis mounted from the upper margin of this partition.

Across the back of the casing i5 is a supply manifold 22 to which the liquid to be metered is delivered by means of a pipe 23'. Beneath the bottom of the casing is a discharge manifold 24 from which a` discharge pipe 25 leads the meter 30 liquid. The input manifold 22 and the discharge manifold 24 are each provided with valve openings through the wall of the casing communicating with the respective chambers i9 and 2li Within the casing. 35

Each of the inlets may be identical with the construction disclosed by way of exemplication of Figs. 4 and 5. A bushing 2l screwed into the rear wall of the casing provides a valve seat' at 28 which is engaged by the squared valve plug 2S. 40 This plug is reciprocable in a sleeve which constitutes an extension into manifold 22 of the bushing 21. The liquid from the manifold passes along the flat faces of the plug or through the apertures 3i to the seat 28, and if the valve is moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 4 to its open position the liquid will pass through the bushing 21 to a position above one of the chambers i9 and 20 and Will fall into. the

chamber.

Integral with the valve plug 29 is a valve stem 33 having a spool-shaped head 34 engaged by the forked end portion 35 of a lever 36 fulcrumed by means of pin 31 on bracket 38. Arms 39 which project laterally from the lever as shown in Fig. 1 55 carry tension springs 4B which are connected with arms All on another lever ft2 fulcrumed on the same pin 3l'. Arms lll carry set screws it which function as adjustable stops for engage ment with the rear wall of the casing to limit the oscillation of the respective levers i2 in` a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. The clockwise oscillation of levers d2 is limited by the bracket 45 shown in Fig. 2. The arms 4l are bodily adjustable longitudinally of levers l2 and are held in adjustment by bolts 53. Their adjustment preferably times the inlet to open just after the corresponding discharge valve has closed.

The lever 35 which is directly connected with the spool-shaped head 3d of the valve stem, is moved entirely by the tension of spring All as said spring is swung across the center line of the fulcrum pin 3l in the course of the oscillation of lever 152. This results in a snap movement of the valve plug 29 in both directions of its operation between its open and closed posi-V tions.

A similar arrangement is provided for the control of the outlet ports. The outlet bushings lll provide valve seats at i8 for the valve plugs 5D which move in the sleeve-like extensions of bushings d1. In Fig. Sthe valve is shown in its open position to permit nowv from the appropriate chamber through the holes 52 and past the valve seat 48 into the discharge manifold 24.

Both inlet and outlet valves open against the pressure and seat in the direction of now.

Valve plug 5l) is provided with a spool-shaped head at 53 controlled by the forked terminal 54 of the lever 55. An arm 5t on lever 55engages the adjustable stop nut 5l threaded to sleeve 5i and thus limits the opening movement of the valve.

Lever 55 is iulcrumed on the pin 55 carried by a standard 59. Lever 55 has laterally extending arms 5i) (Fig, 3) connected by tension springs 62 with the corresponding arms 63 of the lever 65. This lever is likewise fulcrumed on the pin 58 of standard 59 and extends thence across the chamber to a position near the side wall of casing I5, the two valves being disposed adjacent the central partition 2|. The lever 55 is preferably provided near its center with an upwardly arched transverse rib portion 56 centrally slotted at 61 to pass the oat guide hereinafter to be described.

Connecting rods 52 and SS connect the free ends of the respective levers 55 with the lever 'l5 which extends transversely across the casing and which is centrally fulcrumed on the rock shaft 'EL The length of the connecting rods 68 and 58 is such as to operate the outlet valves synchronously in opposite directions, the one valve being always open when the other is closed. When one of the levers 55 is swung in an upward direction the other is swung in a downward direction, and the two sets of springs 62 controlling the respective discharge valves move across center substantially at the same instant so that as one valve closes the other one opens to maintain a constant ilow to the discharge manifold from one or the other of chambers i9 and 20.

In the top of the casing a bracket l2 has depending arms '13 xlng the positions of the upper ends of the respective guide rods lll upon which the oats 'l5 are reciprocable. The lower ends of the respective guide rods 'M are nxed in bosses I6 in the bottom of the casing.

The upper ends of the respective oats 'l5 do not bear directly upon the guide rods 'I4 but are adjustable upon the valve 'actuating sleeves Tl as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Each float is assembled upon a tube '8 transversely slotted at n float will determine the instant at which the lling of either compartment will be terminated The levers t2 which f bythe rising of the float. actuatev the springs that control the separate inlet valves are releasably connected by means of the latch members 85 to the lever '10. Each A Vspring key of the latch members 85 is fulcrumed at 8B to one of the levers 42, the weight of its trip arm 8'! tending to maintain its hooked portion 88 in engagement beneath the lever 10.

As a given oaft l5 rises in itschamber it will encounter the trip arm 8l of the latch 85, thus withdrawing the latch hook 88 from beneath lever 1l). The continued upward movement of the float will cause the trip arm 87 -to engage the free lend of lever d2, thus oscillating the lever 42' upwardly until the springs 4B connected therewith cross the center of the fulcrum pin l37,

thereby tripping the inlet valve in a valve. closing direction. .v

The chamber served by this inlet valvewill y now be full, but the closing of the inlet valve of this chamber will not interfere With the continued draining of the companion chamber. Only when the companion chamber is fully drained will the downwardly moving oat therein encounter the transverse rib 6B of the approprif ate discharge valve lever 65 to oscillate that lever in a direction to move springs 62 across center to the point where the discharge valve of such chamber willsnap shut. This motion, however,l will be transmitted through the link 68 or 69 to the lever 7U and through thev other link to the other discharge valve lever 55 to move said other discharge valve lever upwardly in a valve ope-ning direction, the arrangement being such that as the one discharge valve snaps closed the other will simultaneously snap open so as to permit the uninterrupted flow of liquid through the dischargegmaniiold 24. y

The above described movement of lever IB has performed an additional function in that it'has opened the inlet valve serving the recently discharged chamber. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that until a given float reaches its uppermost position on the guide rod 'M, the latch member 88 connects the lever 'Hl with the inlet valve actuating lever d2. Consequently as ilo-at 'l5 has moved downwardly in chamber I9 (Fig. 1), its

final movements which tilted lever 'l0 have notl only closed the discharge valve leading from chamber i9, but have transmitted vmovement through the appropriate latch 88 from lever l to the appropriate lever t2 for concurrently opening the inlet valve `25 serving chamber I9,

Thus, it will be observed that following the draining of any given chamber three valves are concurrently operated. The discharge valve for that chamber is closed, thedischarge valve for u Vthe other chamber is opened, and the inlet valve leading to the recently drained chamber is opened. .The closing of a given inlet valve is independently accomplished by the/rising of the oat in the filled chamber.

In agiven cycle of operation of the device the lever 10 is tilted first in. one direction and then the other. This tilts the rock shaft 1I upon which lever 'l0 is fulcrumed, and the movement of the rock shaft is transmitted by means of an arm 9U and pawl 9| to a ratchet wheel 92 connectedby bevel gearing at 93 (Fig. l) tothe counterv or register l'l upon which the total flowageI through the meter may be totalized in gallons or any other suitable unit of measure. y

For adjusting the registration of the device either of floats 15, or both of them, maybe adjusted on sleeves 11 in the manner already described. Plugs at 94 are normally sealed in screw threaded connection with the top of the meter casing l5, at least one of the plugs being preferably vented at 95 through a screened opening. Upon the removal of these plugs a special tool may be inserted as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, such tool being designed to clear the bracket-'I3 and to provide relatively movable rods v96 and 91 with adjacent handles. Rod 96 is a tension member having a forked work-engaging part at 98. Rod 91 operates through a threaded bearing in the fork 98 and engages the end of the float. When the handles of the two rods are relatively rotated with the tool in the position shown in Fig. 9, the work engaging parts 98 and 99 of the respective rods are separated, with the result that the head 8D of sleeve 11 is subjected to tension in such a way as todraw the sleeve through the spring detent 82,`

thus decreasing the extent to which the float must rise before it trips the inlet valve in a valve lclosing direction. Mere pressure on head 80 by engagement of the fork 9B thereabove will force the sleeve 11 into the float to increase the extent to which the float must rise before tripping the inlet valve in its closing direction..

I claim:

l. In a meter of the character described,`th combination with a casing provided with a partition defining chambers, said partition being open to provide communication between said Vchambers over the partition and above the level of liquid in said casing, a lever pivoted ad jacent the point at which said partition affords communication between said chambers, said lever overhanging the respective chambers, inlet and outlet valves for the respective chambers, float means determinative of liquid levels in the chambers and adapted to maintain such levels below the point .of communication therebetween, and valve controlling mechanism operatively positioned to be acted on by the float means of the respective chambers and including connections from'the respective discharge valves to said lever, and means whereby the float actuated closing movement of the discharge valve of one chamber will transmit motion through said lever to open the discharge valve of the other chambery lfloat in each chamber, means for transmitting the upward movement of each iloat individually to the inlet valve serving the chamber in. which the iioat is located for t'he movement of said valve in a closing direction, and means for transmitting the downward movement of the float of each chamber to the respective discharge valves of both chambers to close the discharge valve to the chamber in which the float is moving .downwardly, to open the discharge valve of the other chamber, said means also being .provided with connections to open the inlet valve of the chamber in which the discharge valve is closed.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing provided with a central partition sub-dividing said casing into chambers and aiording communication between said chambers in the upper part of the casing, a lever pivoted in said upper part of the casing and .overhanging both of said chambers, snap f action discharge valves located near the bottoms of the respective chambers and provided with operating levers having their free ends linked to the ends of said first mentioned lever, floats provided with means guiding them for reciprocation in the respective chambers and adapted in their downward movement to operate the associated discharge valve actuating lever in a valve closing direction,v the connection of the actuated lever through the first lever with the lever controlling the other discharge valve being adapted` to open said other discharge valve, inlet' valves serving the respective chambers, means for actuposition., and means for releasing said latch:`

mechanism and for transmitting the rising motion of a float individually to the inlet valve serving the chamber in which such iloat rises.

4. A device of the character described, comprising the combination with a valve, of a valve A.

actuating lever, a float, a float actuated lever, latch mechanism `detachably connecting said levers for operation in one direction, and ytrip means connected with said latch mechanism for the release thereof and the direct and independent operation of the valve actuating lever by the float in the opposite direction of floatmovement.

5. A meter ofthe character described, comprising the combination with a casing havingan internal partition providing separate chambers in said casing, a lever fulcrumed over said partition and projecting into the respective chambers, snap actuating discharge valves located adjacent the partition and adjacent the bottoms of the respective chambers for the emptying thereof,y actuating levers for said snap action valves extending oppositely from said partition beneath the free ends of the iirst mentioned lever, links connecting the ends of the first lever with the ends of said discharge valve actuating levers for the transmission of valve opening movement to one lever consequent upon the valve closing movement of the other, inlet valves serving the respectivev chambers, and floats provided with means guiding them for movement in the 'respective chambers and having connections for the operation of the several valves, at least one of said vfloats having valve actuating means with respect to4 which such float is adjustable.

6. In a device of the character described, the

ifil) combination with a pair of chambers, floats 1in the respective chambers and inlet and discharge valves for the respective chambers, of 'means connecting the discharge valves for substantially concurrent' action in opposite directions whereby one of said valves is opened when the other is closed, said means including parts operatively disposed in the respective chambers to receive motion from the descending iloat in the chamber in which the discharge valve is to be closed, mechanism for vtransnn'tting motion from said means to open the inlet valve to said last mentioned chamber substantially concurrently with the closing of the discharge valve therein, said mechanism comprising a iloat releasable latch and a part operable by the rising float in each chamber for closing the'respective inlet valve thereof.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with' a pair of chambers and means providing inlet and outlet ports serving the respective chambers, of snap action valve mechanisms including valves controlling the respective ports, means operable by a oat descending in either of said chambers for substantially concurrently actuating the discharge valves of the respective chambers in opposite directions, whereby to close the discharge valve in the chamber in which the float is descending and toopen the discharge valve in the other of said chambers, and latch mechanisms for connecting the said discharge valve actuating-means with the respective snap action mechanism of the inlet valves of said chambers, each such latch mechanism including a latch releasing part disposed in the path of the float rising in the cham'- ber served by the respective valve for the release of the latch mechanism and the float operated closing movement' of the inlet valve independently of the automatic opening of the other in let valve through its latch mechanism substantially concurrently with the opposite movement of the discharge valves aforesaid.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of chambers provided with discharge ports and discharge valves, of snap action mechanism controlling the respective valves in the respective chambers, each comprising a lever extending across said chamber, floats operable in the respective chambers and engageable with the respective levers to actuate the snap mechanisms controlling the respective valves, lever means connecting said levers for opposite and substantially concurrent movement whereby one valve opens as the other is closed by a descending float, inlet valve means for the respective chambers, snap action mechanisms controlling the respective inlet valve means and provided vvith parts disposed in the paths ofthe respective oats to be actuated by the rising thereof beyond predetermined positions in the respective chambers for the actuation of the snap action mechanisms to close the respective inlet valves as their respective iioats are raised, and latch mechanisms releasably connecting the respective parts with said lever means -for actuation by said lever means in a valve opening direction, said latch mechanisms including float-released detent means for freeing them from said lever means upon the rising of their respective 'oats, whereby to permit thel independent closing of the inlet valves by the floats asaforesaid.

I9. In a device of the vcharacter described, the

sub-combination of an inlet valve provided with snap actuating control means including a'lever,

individually faeoaeoc direction, and a second actuator movable Yinsa 21:0

direction opposite to the movement of the first actuator and with which said detent isfnormally engageable, said second actuator being adapted to transmit motion through said detent and'lever to said snap action means for the opening of said {51'5 I valve. s

l0. In a device of the character ydescribed-:the sub-combination which includes a valve, snap ac.- tion mechanism including a lever and al spring controlling the movementv of said valve between r2.0 its open and closed positions, a float comprising an actuator, and means operatively, guiding the float for movement in a'path such that said actul ator may operate said lever and snap action mechanism to close the valve, a releasablelatch 25 connected with said lever and provided with-a part adapted to move said latch' to its released position, said part being interposed between said actuator and lever to be initially engaged by-s'aid actuator for the release of said latch preliminary 30 to the actuation oi said lever, and a secondaactuator movable in opposition to the direction `Lofvalve closing movement of said Boat .and` withA which said latch is normally engaged, said latch being biased for movement toward engagement'mi with said second actuator upon release .ofy the pressure of said float. i

1l. In a device of the character describedthe combination with a plurality of chambers having exhaust ports and means providing inlet ports-'for die the respective chambers, of valves controlling the several ports and adjustable between open and closed positions, snap action `mechanisms connected with Vthe respective valves to require decisive opening and closing movements thereof, the `c45.

snap action mechanisms controllingthe exhaust port valves including levers extending acrossthe bottoms of the respective chambersand Athe snap action mechanisms controlling thesrespective irilet port valves comprising levers extending lacress in() the uppery portions of lthe respective chambers, lever and link means connecting the levers ofthe exhaust port-valve snap action mechanisms .-for substantially concurrent operationin opposite directions, whereby to open the exhaust port 555 valve of one chamber upon the closing of theexhaust port valve of the other, floats `provided with means guiding them for movement 'intheirespective chambers, said floats being engageable with the exhaust port snap actio'nlevers whereby ,tot-50` close the exhaust port valve-of a given chamber upon the descent ofthe float therein,Y latch means connected with the'lever of the snap action fmechj anism of each inlet port valve, said ylatch means being biased for engagement with said link `fand P565 part disposed in the path of the yrising float of).

therespective chamberV to receive motion ifrom such rising float to release the latchiand 'to-ftrans'-v `mitcontinued motionof saidjiloat lto-"the'snap 5.75

action lever in a direction for the closing of the inlet valve for the chamber in which the rising iloat is located.

12. A meter of the character described, comprising a casing having a plurality of chambers, floats provided with means guiding them for movement in the respective chamber, valve means adapted to be actuated by the respective floats, and actuating means connected with the respective floats comprising a peripherally grooved member axially adjustable through one of said floats, and a spring detent carried by the float and engageable with a groove of said member releasably to maintain its position.

13. A; meter of the character described, comprising a casing providing a plurality of chambers, floats provided with means guiding them for movement in the respective chambers, valves controlling flow to and from the respective chambers and operatively connected for actuation by said floats, and means for transmitting motion from one of said floats to one of said valves including a sleeve telescopically extensible respecting the float,v said chamber having a plug so located as to receive a tool by means of which the sleeve and the float are relatively adjustable, said sleeve and float having means for frictionally retaining their respective adjustments. n

14. A meter of the character described, comprising a casing partitioned to provide chambers and provided with plugs centered over the respective chambers, rods upright in the respective chambers terminating short of the tops thereof, bracket means engaged in the tops of said rods to maintain their positions in the chamber, sleeves reciprocable on the rods, oats in telescopic connection with the respective sleeves, means for yieldably maintaining the adjustment of the respective floats in regard to their respective sleeves, and tool engageable means carried by the respective sleeves and floats adapted for manipulation by the tool in a given chamber upon the removal of the plug thereof, and valvemechanisms individual to the respective chambers and including parts engageable by the respective sleeves to transmit the motion of said float for the operation of said valve mechanisms.

WILLIAM F. SCHULTZ. 

